AROUND THE TOWN. . . Summer is here and the whole family will enjoy the rooftop Texas-style barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays at the Lahaina Store Grille & Oyster Bar on Front Street.
At the buffet line, you get two choices of meat such as the barbecue chicken, beef brisket, and pork ribs with pineapple glaze. Other highlights are baked beans with smoked bacon, potato salad, peel-and-eat shrimp and stuffed jalapenos. Cost is $15.95 adults, and $10.95 keiki. The views of the ocean are expansive, indeed.
"Ever heard the saying, 'all things are bigger in Texas'? says owner Mark Joslin, born and raised in Clear Lake, Texas. "Well, there's nothing bigger than this!"
Article Photos
MauiGrown Coffee Company Store’s co-manager Jeff Ferguson will do tastings of his new ginseng coffee Saturday for Ginseng Day. He helped create the brew with ginsenologist Steve Rose.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
The Booze Brothers Band starts playing at 2 p.m. and while mom and dad are listening, kids may check out Wi-Fi sports and free soda in zone one in the Grand Dining Room on the second floor.
Famous big wave rider Titus Nihi Kinimaka and family flew in from Kauai last week and they all had a fabulous time listening to the classic rock 'n' roll, enjoying the barbecue, pounding oysters and drinking icy cold beer.
"The food, the service, the music, the ambiance and the views make for a fun-filled day as well as an amazing experience for all," says Joslin.
Looking for some free samples and fun? Ginseng Day is brewing from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store next to the towering smokestack on Lahainaluna Road.
"We will debut our special blend of 100 percent Maui coffee with 100 percent American Ginseng for a cutting edge coffee experience," says the store's co-manager, Jeff Ferguson. He will also offer shots to put in your java as well as iced ginseng coffee at his walk-up coffee bar. The new blend is available only at the store.
In addition, Wow-Wee Maui's Candy Co., will be there with all manner of chocolate and ginseng bars and Steve Rose of Maui's Ginseng Strategies company will be on hand to answer any questions.
So what's all the buzz about it? Ginseng reportedly has aphrodisiac powers and it's been revered by Chinese and Koreans as a cure-all for centuries. . . No wonder owner Mike Capuano of Wow-Wee Maui's Kava Bar & Grill in Kahului serves his ginseng-chocolate bars as aphrodisiacs at his Tuesday night Speed Dating. Wow-wee!
John Paul Fine Foods in Pukalani will partner with Hana Health to host an in-house farmer's market at its gourmet store on Makawao Avenue the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
Who Cut The Cheese will hold its monthly wine tasting at neighboring Stella Blues Cafe in Kihei from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Sip five wines and taste five cheeses for $28. This month's theme is Reislings Reviewed.
The people at Maalaea Grill are all green thumbs with their new 50,000-square-foot organic garden on their new property in Kihei. "It's a crazy new hobby, hard work but very addicting, and by late summer we will be producing all of our own vegetables and herbs, except for the Watanabe Farms lettuce, and, of course, mushrooms," says General Manager Luke Lansman.
Maalaea Grill will also bring in vibraphonist Emil Richards (Frank Sinatra's former right-hand man) to perform with the Benoit JazzWorks Thursday. Wines such as Miner cabernet will be discounted and the Jazzed Up Trio of scallops, prawns and blackened mahimahi costs $24.95. Kamaaina keiki eat free from 5 to 9 nightly.
I thought I'd heard it all, but the Invasive Species Cook Off was held Sunday at Maui Ocean Center, sponsored by Maui County. Entrants cooked with ta'ape (blue-line snapper) and Chef Craig Erickson of Sea House won with salt-crusted ta'ape served with pohole ferns and Molokai sweet potato. Second place winner was Lyndon Honda of Old Lahaina Luau; and third place went to Tom Muromoto of Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Part of the International Year of the Reef, the contest highlighted ta'ape because, well, it's taken over the in-shore habitat, but it is good eating. The judges included Mayor Charmaine Tavares.
Carla Tracy is dining editor of Maui Scene. You may call her at 242-6342 or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.
